Mendenhall was largely the father of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii.
Mendenhall was born in Mapleton, Utah and graduated from Springville High School.
He was then involved in various business ventures mainly in California and served as bishop of the Stockton Ward of the LDS Church.
When Mendenhall was first given the assignment to select a temple site in New Zealand by David O. McKay, he was serving as president of the San Joaquin Stake in California.
Mendenhall was the person who went to such countries as Tonga and recruited local members who were called as labor missionaries to assist in building the Polynesian Cultural Center.